Muscat: Al Qabas team claimed Amateur League title at Al Wahda complex on Friday. Al Qabas defeated Al Jawabi team in penalty shootouts with a score of 4-3 in a thrilling final match witnessed by an exceptional crowd of over 10,000 fans who filled the stands of Al Wahda Sports Club.
The final ceremony was held under the auspice of Nasser al Sunaidy, a member of Majlis Ash'shura.
The enthusiastic atmosphere reflected the people's love for football, which motivated the players of both teams to give their all in a match characterised by competitiveness and excitement. Despite the numerous opportunities that came to both teams, the match ended without any goals being scored.
The match started with an equal level between the two teams, as the first half witnessed fierce competition from the first minute. Al Qabas team tried to control the midfield with short and quick passes, while Al Jawabi team relied on quick counterattacks. The two teams exchanged missed opportunities, and minutes before the end of the first half, Al Qabas player Mubarak al Ghailani was sent off after a violent tackle on an Al Jawabi player, putting his team in a difficult position for the rest of the match.
At the start of the second half, Al Jawabi team took advantage of Al Qabas team's numerical disadvantage and began to press offensively. Al Jawabi controlled the ball for most of the time and tried to penetrate Al Qabas defence with well-placed passes and attempts to shoot from outside the box.
In contrast, Al Qabas team relied on quick counterattacks. The attempts continued from both sides, but the strong defence and the brilliance of the goalkeepers prevented any goals from being scored until the end of regulation time.
After the end of regulation time with a scoreless draw, the two teams resorted to penalty shootouts, which Al Qabas team won in their favour with a score of 3-4.
In the coronation ceremony, Nasser al Sunaidy presented the gold medals and the championship cup to the players of Al Qabas team, while Al Jawabi team was awarded the silver medals.
Omar al Qasabi, head of the media committee, expressed his thanks saying: "We thank all the organising committees that contributed to the success of the Amateur League at Al Wahda Sports Club, from the club's board of directors to all the participating teams and their fans who played a major role in the success of the tournament. We look forward to organising more tournaments that bring everyone together and contribute to promoting the spirit of sportsmanship."
Al Qasabi pointed to the importance of supporting local sports and providing opportunities for young people to express their skills and showcase their talents, emphasising the great role that such tournaments play in strengthening social communication between different age groups and communities. He added: "The tournament was a great opportunity for players to show their skills and play with high sportsmanship. We are proud of the efforts made by everyone to achieve this success and we look forward to more tournaments in the future."
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